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Archive for the ‘goose control’ Category

Often found on large inland bodies of water–like lakes, reservoirs, large ponds, and on seashores and rivers–Canada Geese are grazers and feed in shallow water, pastures and arable land. Without goose repellents, these birds are most likely to return to the area they were born. These geese leave behind an abundance of droppings, which can be a health hazard, and feathers. Canada Geese graze relentlessly, killing grass in areas where they reside and leaving piles of unsightly poop. Keep these birds away from with bird control products.

There are several humane bird solutions to get rid of geese. One method of deterring Canada Geese is by removing their food source. This can be done with Migrant Goose Repellant is a non-toxic, food grade liquid product that is used to deter geese from common grazing areas, like lawns and shrubs. Migrant Goose Repellant is made from a non-toxic grape extract that when ingested causes an irritation to the mucous membranes and trigeminal nerves resulting in the geese avoiding the treated area. Disrupting their habitat by removing any reeds will also discourage geese from nesting in grassy areas.

Scare tactics such as sound bird deterrents are also effective in goose control. Sonic Shield is a motion activated device that replicates a vicious dog barking sound when triggered. The sensor reaches a distance of about 30 feet to the front and 20 feet side to side. This is an inexpensive solution to bird control. The Goose-B-Gone Super Sonic another sound bird deterrent. It is more costly than the Sonic Shield but reaches a much greater distance and is very effective. It plays goose distress calls and predator sounds to scare geese away from property(or any area within a one acre radius).

The scarecrow is another effective motion activated scare tactic that sprays water from a sprinkler system every time it is triggered by motion. The scarecrow is used for lawns, docks, pools and other areas. Coyote decoys are another inexpensive solution to getting rid of geese. These decoys can be placed in the nearby area and keep geese away since coyote feed on them.
Most goose control products are easy to install, however, if you have neither the time nor resources to install the goose deterrent products, there are wildlife and pest control professionals that offer humane capture and release services.

Throughout the Malone University Campus in Canton, Ohio, a growing gaggle of geese has been camping out on walkways and lawns, honking and even attacking some students as they walk to class. Some unfortunate students have even stepped in the green-colored droppings left by the noisy intruders. The Canada geese have been congregating between Cattell Library and Mitchell Hall. In some instances, geese have completely blocked sidewalks.

While the hope is that the geese are just visiting, one faculty member who teaches ornithology noted that some populations of geese remain throughout the year in Ohio. Drawn by the manicured lawns, tasty vegetation and the absence of predators, the geese are likely to call this campus their home. While there are no large bodies of water on campus, experts believe the geese, like the ducks before them, will adapt and make nests there.

Campus officials worry that once the geese take to nesting, the campus will be overrun since geese are prolific reproducers. The other concern is that Canada geese are protected by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, so permits are needed to hunt them out of season or destroy their eggs.

So far, campus officials have considered resorting to dogs, scarecrows and lasers to get rid of the geese. Malone’s Director of Physical Plant suggested some goose controls but these were considered inhumane. A Department of Natural Resources publication noted that hunting virtually eliminated Canada geese from Ohio by 1900. But by 2000, the Division of Wildlife estimated there were 84,000 Canada geese in Ohio.

Perhaps it’s time for Malone University to implement some professional goose control measures. Here are two —a goose repellant and a goose deterrent—that will get rid of geese quickly, efficiently and humanely:

Goose-B-Gone Super Sonic Goose Deterrent

Broadcasting pre-recorded goose-distress calls, the Goose-B-Gone Super Sonic system intimidates geese over a wide area. The system comes with one internal speaker that covers a full acre and more speakers can be added to cover up to five acres. The Goose-B-Gone Super Sonic is fully programmable to operate between 65 to 105 decibels and can be turned on or off at night. The system is ruggedly designed for outdoor use, with UV-protected materials to endure harsh sun and weather.

Migrate Goose Repellent

Turning a goose food source into a sour-tasting substance, Migrate Goose Repellent transforms grass areas and shrubs into a natural repellent. This non-toxic liquid is easily applied by grounds crew and won’t harm people or pets. Its active ingredient is Methyl Anthranilate, a harmless grape extract that irritates a goose’s trigeminal nerves and mucous membranes. One or two bites of a chemically treated lawn or shrub will make geese think twice about considering campus lawns and shrubs as a food source. Migrate lasts up to three months outdoors, and won’t wash off with rain or sprinklers. One gallon covers about 16,000 square feet for one application.

Northern Illinois University has been invaded by geese. The fearless birds seem to be everywhere on campus, walking on the sidewalk outside DuSable, paying no mind to buses and cars, picking at trash on the ground–the problems are almost too numerous to mention.

The geese return to NIU every year. One goose, known as Boris, after having settled near the Chick Evans Field House, would chase, bite and squawk at all passersby. The geese also cause dangerous traffic situations. The large birds routinely take over crosswalks, stopping buses, cars and motorcycles, causing near collisions. Nesting on residence hall roofs, taking up sidewalks and crosswalks, these geese have literally taken over the campus.

Canada geese are big–they can weigh up to 24 lbs.—and also quite aggressive, chasing students and pets with an annoying “honking” noise. In flight, geese can reach speeds up to 50 mph, so they can injure people who don’t duck out of their way. Since they are territorial birds, they will protect their nest and eggs from a human or pet.

Goose droppings can carry diseases, including histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis and giardia. The parasite larvae crawl onto the skin and burrow under it, creating a red itchy rash.

To keep geese off campus, you’ll need some serious goose deterrents. Banging pots, shooting BB guns and leaving poisons are ineffective and dangerous. Fortunately, there are several deterrents that are both humane and effective.

Super Sonic Goose Deterrent

Broadcasting pre-recorded goose distress calls to deter geese from outdoor areas, Super Sonic Goose Deterrents feature a built-in speaker that covers up to an acre of land. These sounds are repeated every ten minutes to warn geese of impending danger. When geese hear these calls, their natural instinct is to leave the area. You can add more speakers to cover larger areas. The best sonic deterrents can be programmed to shut off automatically at night. Incidentally, ultrasonic deterrent devices are ineffective, since geese can’t hear these high frequency sounds.

Goose Repellent

Geese love to nibble on shrubs and lawns. Goose Repellent makes grass areas and shrubs inedible to geese. The liquid repellent is non toxic and safe to use around people and pets. It uses a non-toxic grape extract (Methyl Anthranilate) that irritates a goose’s trigeminal nerves and mucous membranes. One gallon of Goose Repellent covers approximately 16,000 square feet and lasts three months. It can be applied with any simple hand held sprayer.

Scarecrows

These motion-activated sprinklers hit geese with a “Hello” but harmless blast of water whenever the birds wander into their radius of protection. The combination of water spray, startling sound and realistic looking bird head convince even the most stubborn geese to disperse and avoid the area. Scarecrows are easily connected to any garden hose, and their sensitivity and blast radius are easily adjusted to suit the specific venue. Scarecrows typically cover an area of about 1,200 square feet (35-foot by 45-foot wide). And you can get up to 1,000 “firings” on a single 9-volt battery.